The smoke has cleared from the fireworks, the barbecue fires are out, the red, white and blue banners have been rolled up.

Today is July 5, the day after Independence Day. But there are some lingering questions we should all be asking ourselves during our Fourth of July patriotism hangover.

What unites us as a nation today?

Who are the unifying forces? What are the national goals?

Do we remain a country with a mission?

There are periods in our history where the country truly united, after fractious debate and strife, behind a common cause.

These are the moments of American legend, starting with the Revolution. The national sacrifice for World War II may be the greatest example. The inherent American identity of good triumphing over evil was formed during these two historic high-water marks. Both were fights for freedom, and gave us a sense of invincibility to overcome stacked odds.

That is perhaps what Americans believe is our greatest trait. To unite, and overcome.

We repaired after the Civil War, and the decades that followed were unprecedented in economic growth, fueled by world-leading invention and manufacturing, grand architectural and engineering achievements, and the explosion of consumer products.

We won the space race.

We outlasted the Soviet Union.

The idea of a unifying, common cause made a comeback after 9/11, proof that the nation will still respond to calamity.

But what about the times when there is no calamity, no single cause to fight for, no identifiable enemy to fight against?

What unites us then? Most people will respond "Freedom." It is the word most invoked on Independence Day. And it inspires the next question, "free from what?"

The answer lies in the Bill of Rights. We are free from an overbearing government — or "tyranny" as the Founding Fathers called it. Free to speak, to worship, to arm ourselves, to keep our land and property from being seized.

And this where we become divided. How much government is enough, how much is too much, or too little? Everyone has their own definitions of overbearing, intrusive, or protection.

Nowadays, the political forces in this country exploit these differences, rather than explore our similarities, which are plenty.

Truth is — I'd say — 90 percent of us want 90 percent of the same things. Jobs. Economic opportunity. Good schools. Safe streets. Good medical care. Where we differ is how to get these things, and the political rhetoric makes common-sense, common-good compromise all but impossible.

You can read both at the links above, just as reminders, on July 5, of what this country stood for: optimism and growth through liberty and unity, and a political system that put the "We, the People," first.

Mark in the Morning is an online-only column from Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno taking on the day's biggest issues in New Jersey and beyond. It appears weekday mornings on NJ.com.